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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nisarg" data-source="post: 1733840" data-attributes="member: 19893">Well, it could be that I've had more firsthand experiences with the CPM; but I can (and have, in this very thread) described encounters with them on many many occasions.   Those weren't just generalities: I really have seen guys intentionally hanging around FLGS trying to "freak the mundanes" or giving off a horrid funk, or screaming for no good reasons (said FLGS later had,unfairly, the problem of being labeled "unfriendly" because it had a policy of kicking out some of these people). I have really seen grossly overweight, literally dirt-encrusted guys hitting on a 16 year old girl at her first con (I would guess she won't be going to a second one, I wouldn't really blame her). At my university undergrad club there were at least 3 seperate CPM.  The guy who tried to join every game, didn't bathe and was overweight and unkempt.  The guy who was fat and had moderately questionable hygene and started screaming and throwing tantrums in games. And the guy who was thin, bad hygene, seemed to have no concept of appropriate sexual modesty in public, and tried to steal RPG books from the club library.In my decades of gaming I have also had dozens of catpiss men try to get into my gaming groups, all of which have been promptly shown the door. The reasons for why I might have had more experience than others could have to do with regional issues (maybe western canada has a much higher degree of socially dysfunctional individuals joining RPG activities than other regions of north america?); or it could have to do with the mere fact that I've always made a point to be as active as possible in gaming at the local community level, and so I've been active in the places where CPM show up and become a problem (stores, clubs, and cons).But remember, to me the fundamental problem is not the mere existence of the CPM, it is the way the CPM and our tolerance of them are allowed to become the poster-boys for role-playing as far as society and the popular media are concerned.    While we can do things regarding society, at the local level, or the media level, to try to change this awful stereotype of gamers, part of the responsibility is ours.  Part of why CPM is seen by TV shows, movies, news reports etc. as the face of roleplaying is because we in roleplaying all to often tolerate him to the extent that he is allowed to dictate the hobby's attitude and image overall. Its happened in other kinds of fandom, most notably in furry fandom, but in trekkie fandom and others too.Nisarg</blockquote>

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